Keyshawn Johnson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Keyshawn Johnson

Johnson with the Carolina Panthers in 2006
No. 19
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1972-07-22) July 22, 1972 (age 53) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Susan Miller Dorsey (Los Angeles, California)
College:	West Los Angeles (1991–1993) USC (1994–1995)
NFL Draft:	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Career history
New York Jets (1996) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000) Dallas Cowboys (2004) Carolina Panthers (2006)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XXXVII) 3× Pro Bowl (1998, 1999, 2001) Paul Warfield Trophy (1995) Unanimous All-American (1995) Third-team All-American (1994) Pop Warner Trophy (1995) Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (1995) 2× First-team All-Pac-10 (1994, 1995)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 814 Receiving yards: 10,571 Receiving touchdowns: 64
Player stats at PFR

Joseph Keyshawn Johnson (born July 22, 1972) is a former American football wide receiver. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons and is now a sports broadcaster.

Johnson played college football for the USC Trojans, where he was honored as an All-American two times. In the 1996 NFL draft, he was chosen as the first overall pick by the New York Jets. This was a rare achievement, as he was one of only three wide receivers ever to be picked first in the draft.

During his NFL career, he also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers. He won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers in 2003. After retiring from football in 2006, he became a popular TV analyst for ESPN and later for FS1.

Early Life and College Career

Keyshawn Johnson was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He was a talented football player in high school, but he faced some challenges in his early life. Because of his school grades, he started his college football journey at West Los Angeles College, a community college.

After working hard to improve, Johnson transferred to the University of Southern California (USC). He played for the famous USC Trojans in 1994 and 1995. He was a star player, catching many passes for a lot of yards and touchdowns.

Johnson was recognized twice as an All-American, an honor given to the best college players in the country. He led the Trojans to a victory in the 1995 Cotton Bowl Classic and was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP). The next year, he played in the 1996 Rose Bowl and set a record by catching 12 passes for 216 yards. He was named the Player of the Game, and in 2008, he was added to the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

New York Jets (1996–1999)

The New York Jets selected Johnson as the first overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. During his time with the Jets, the team improved greatly. One of his best games was a playoff victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998. In that game, he scored two touchdowns, recovered a fumble, and even intercepted a pass on defense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000–2003)

In 2000, Johnson was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He signed a large contract that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at the time. In 2002, with new head coach Jon Gruden, Johnson helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl XXXVII. He played a key role in the championship game. However, his relationship with Coach Gruden became difficult, and he was traded after the 2003 season.

Dallas Cowboys (2004–2005)

Johnson then joined the Dallas Cowboys, where he was reunited with his former Jets coach, Bill Parcells. In his first season with the Cowboys, he led the team in receiving yards and became a team leader. After two seasons, the Cowboys released him to make room for another famous receiver, Terrell Owens.

Carolina Panthers (2006)

In 2006, Johnson signed with the Carolina Panthers to play alongside star receiver Steve Smith. During a Monday Night Football game, Johnson set an NFL record by scoring a touchdown with his fourth different team on a Monday night. He played one season in Carolina before being released.

Retirement and Legacy

Johnson announced his retirement from the NFL on May 23, 2007. He finished his career with 814 receptions and over 10,000 receiving yards, ranking among the top players in NFL history in both categories. He was known for his consistency, catching 60 or more passes in ten of his eleven seasons.

One of Johnson's biggest legacies was his jersey number. He wore number 19 throughout his career. At the time, wide receivers were usually required to wear numbers in the 80s. Because Johnson was so popular, the NFL eventually relaxed its rules, allowing receivers to wear numbers in the 10-19 range. Today, the rules are even more flexible.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Life After Football

After retiring, Johnson became a sports analyst for ESPN. He appeared on popular shows like Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. He created a famous segment called C'mon Man!, where analysts would point out funny or foolish plays from the past week's games. In 2020, he began hosting a morning radio show for ESPN in Los Angeles. He later moved to FS1 to co-host debate shows like Undisputed and Speak.

Johnson has also been involved in business and television. He started a company to invest in restaurants and hotels. In 2009, he had his own TV show on A&E where he helped people redecorate their homes. In 2013, he competed on the show Dancing with the Stars.

Personal Life

Johnson has been married twice and has five children. His son, Keyshawn Johnson Jr., also played college football as a wide receiver. His nephew, Michael Thomas, is also a well-known wide receiver in the NFL.

In March 2021, Johnson shared the sad news that his oldest daughter, Maia, had passed away at the age of 25.

See also

In Spanish: Keyshawn Johnson para niños